Rescue Efforts Continue at Uttarakhand, Over 170 Still Missing

DEHRADUN: Following a glacier burst in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand on Sunday, in the hopes of finding more survivors multi-agency rescue operations are underway.

In a recent development, 32 bodies are feared trapped so far and more than 170 people still remain missing as rescue operations continue.

The rescue teams have recovered one dead body, and two others trapped inside a tunnel at the Tapovan power project in Chamoli have been traced alive. One of them who made it alive from the glacier disaster is Rashid from Saharanpur and the other is Suraj Singh from Chamoli.

Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar told the media that not much progress has been made in the rescue operation. He also informed that the rescue team has recovered the bodies of 2 Uttarakhand Police personal. The DGP further added that the exact number of missing and dead people hasn't been confirmed but it could be between 192 and 204.

In an effort to locate workers, a team of scientific experts from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has conducted an aerial survey of the location of the snow avalanche which caused flash floods in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Sunday. These experts have asserted that the flash floods could be a case of a large chunk of snow slipping from a hanging glacier.

Despite the fact that no agency has made progression to give a concrete figure, it is estimated that 25-35 people were at work inside the tunnel at the time of the glacier disaster on 7 February.

It is to be noted that security teams deployed for the rescue operations have held several meetings to review the rescue and relief strategy for the workers who are stuck inside. The rescue efforts are moving at a slow pace as the tunnel has been blocked with tonnes of debris and sludge.

ITBP personnel have also carried ration to villages that was swept away in floods caused by glacial burst.

At present more than 600 Army, ITBP, National Disaster Response Force, SDRF and Sashastra Seema Bal personnel are involved in search-and-rescue efforts.

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